Your Questions, Answered

Definition: a visual inspection of a home or property looking for obvious issues.

Scheduled, documented interior and exterior home check-ins for owners of primary homes, seasonal homes, lake properties, cottages and second homes in Northern Michigan.

Our core services include exterior and interior property checks, photo-based reporting, written visit summaries, homeowner notification if something appears wrong.

Simply stated, it is a visual inspection of a home or property, looking for obvious issues.

During a visit, we look for visible signs of concern such as leaks, storm damage, heating issues, forced entry, animal activity, moisture, unusual odors, power-related concerns or anything that appears out of place.

Home watch is not house sitting, property management, a licensed home inspection or a repair service.

It is a professional set of local eyes on your property, with documentation after each visit.

Designed for any homeowners that wants or needs assistance. Whether you are a snowbird, part-time resident, cottage owner or vacation rental owner, Daymark’s concierge services help your home feel ready, cared for, and properly closed up when it matters most.

Whether you’re returning after an extended absence or heading home after a stay, we can handle select niceties so ownership feels easier from a distance.

A personal assistant for your home. Want something? Ask.

Designed for homeowners who do not require recurring home watch visits, but want the reassurance of having a trusted local company available when access is needed.

Daymark can securely hold a property key for approved situations such as emergency access, vendor appointments, storm-related concerns, or owner-requested visits.

Home watch is most often used by snowbirds, second-home owners, seasonal residents, lake property owners, family cottage owners and frequent travelers.

Many clients live outside Northern Michigan for part of the year and want someone to physically check the property while they are away. Others may be gone for extended work travel, winter months, medical reasons or long vacations.

It is especially helpful for homes that sit unoccupied during fall, winter and early spring, when storms, freezing temperatures, power outages and delayed discovery can create costly problems.

Each Home Watch visit follows a structured checklist based on your property and service plan. Typical checks include both exterior and interior observations.

Common exterior items include:

• Doors, windows and visible entry points

• Signs of storm damage

• Obvious roof, gutter, siding or exterior issues visible from the ground

• Driveway and access conditions

• Signs of trespassing, forced entry or vandalism

• Animal activity or damage

• Downed branches or debris

Common interior items include:

• Signs of leaks or water intrusion

• Furnace/thermostat status, when accessible

• Unusual odors

• Visible mold or moisture concerns

• Plumbing areas where accessible

• Electrical or power-related indicators

• Doors, windows and general interior condition

The exact checklist will vary depending on your property, season, access and your specific requirements.

Security cameras, smart thermostats, leak sensors and alarm systems are very useful. But, they do not fully replace an in-person physical visit.

Technology may not show:

• A small leak outside camera view

• A musty odor or moisture issue

• Animal intrusion

• Storm damage around the property

• A door that did not latch properly

• A basement issue not covered by a sensor

• A furnace or power problem if the system goes offline

Home watch and smart technology work well together. The technology gives alerts; a physical visit helps confirm what is actually happening at the property.

A neighbor is valuable. A nosy neighbor is even more valuable.

If you have someone nearby who is willing to help, that’s helpful too. A neighbor, cameras and security systems are two of three parts for an effective system.

Professional Home Watch services is the 3rd component. Without it, it’s like a 2-legged stool. It doesn’t work very well..

A professional home watch service is scheduled, documented and accountable. You are not relying on someone’s memory, availability, comfort level or willingness during bad weather.

For many homeowners, the value is not just that someone looked at the house. It is that the visit was planned, completed, documented and communicated clearly. That can reduce uncertainty while you are away and help with any insurance claims.

This depends on your home, the season, your comfort level and any requirements you may have from your insurance carrier.

Most seasonal homeowners choose weekly visits, especially during winter or when the home is vacant for long periods of time. Others choose every-other-week visits if the home has strong systems in place and the owner is comfortable with a longer interval between visits.

Homes with greater risk factors may benefit from more frequent visits. Examples include:

• Older plumbing or heating systems

• Lakefront or storm-exposed locations

• Wooded properties

• Previous water or pest issues

• Long winter vacancies

• Limited nearby support

If you are unsure, we can discuss your property and help you choose a practical schedule.

Yes. Daymark provides documentation after each scheduled visit.

Reports typically include notes, photos, GPS and time-stamped data so you can see what was checked and whether anything needs attention.

The goal is to give you clear, useful information — not just a message that says, “Everything looks fine.”

Documentation is one of the main differences between a professional home watch service and an informal neighbor check.

If we find something that appears wrong, unusual or urgent, we notify you as soon as practical with photos and a clear explanation of what we observed.

Depending on the situation and your instructions, next steps may include:

• Recommending that a qualified contractor be contacted

• Meeting a vendor on-site, if requested

• Contacting emergency services if there appears to be an immediate safety concern

Daymark does not make major repair decisions on your behalf unless you have specifically authorized a course of action in advance.

Our role is to observe, document, communicate and help coordinate when requested.

Yes! Quite frequently.

At your request, Daymark will meet vendors.

Examples may include:

• HVAC service

• Plumbing visits

• Electrical work

• Internet or utility appointments

• Cleaning or maintenance access

• Delivery or repair appointments

Vendor coordination is billed separately from Home Watch services.

Daymark does not mark up vendor invoices. You pay the vendor directly.

Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll talk about your property and if appropriate, discuss next steps.

Next steps usually include an on-site visit, review expectations, document our agreement and get this off your to-do list.

Daymark is a Home Watch service, not a general contractor.

We may identify an issue, document it, notify you and help coordinate access for a qualified vendor if requested.

For repairs, we generally recommend using licensed and insured professionals for the specific trade involved.

This keeps roles clear and helps protect the homeowner.

Keys, codes and access information are handled carefully and privately.

Before service begins, we discuss the best access method for your property. This may include a physical key, lockbox, smart lock, garage code or another secure arrangement.

Access information is treated as confidential and used only for agreed-upon home watch visits or authorized service needs.

For everyone’s protection, we are licensed, bonded and insured and background checked every year by the National Home Watch Association..

Insurance is a complicated business. We are not insurance experts.

Some insurance carriers have specific requirements for vacant or seasonal homes, including how often a property must be checked, occupied or visited.

Daymark can provide GPS and date/time stamped evidence with each visit report. Many homeowners have used these records and reports to help prevent claims from being denied.

However, Daymark does not guarantee insurance coverage, claim approval or policy compliance. You are always advised to confirm any requirements directly with your insurance provider.

Awesome!

:-)